Gerald Fehn

With a smile on his face after watching his Hawkeyes win, Gerry Fehn left us suddenly on September 9, 2017. Our world just became a little quieter and heaven is now groaning from bad jokes he is telling. Gerry was born to Harry and Gladys “Billie” (Rayson) Fehn on November 26, 1944, in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. At a young age, they moved to Des Moines, Iowa where he graduated from Des Moines North in 1963. From there he attended both Grandview University and the University of Iowa. During this time he met the love of his life and wife of 47 years, Marjorie Ann. Gerry and Marjorie Ann moved from Des Moines to Ankeny where he took a position with Ankeny State Bank where he was for over 15 years. After spending years at the bank helping many in the community with their banking needs, Gerry found another way to help people working at On With Life where he retired in 2014. Gerry loved helping families in need and was evident by becoming Santa Claus every holiday season for the clients and their families.

During his 45 years living in Ankeny, you could see him serving the community in a variety of ways. On a fall Saturday you could see him at the old OLIH little league football fields coaching, and on hot summer days coaching little league baseball at the old Kiwanis fields and softball at the elementary school fields around town. Many of Gerry’s teams had players that became successful Ankeny Hawk and Hawkette players in high school. Gerry served on the Ankeny Little League Board and the Ankeny Parks and Rec Board. Gerry also helped the Ankeny Schools out by serving as Board Treasure, and then on Friday nights you could see him on the sidelines at home football games as part of the chain gang.

His civic duty did not stop there with the youth of Ankeny. Gerry served on the Ankeny Chamber of Commerce for many years and in the 1990s he served the city of Ankeny as a City Councilman. Gerry was always willing to serve to help others in any way he could, and one of many reasons he will be missed.

There are so many people that Gerry touched during his life, his wife of 47 years, Marjorie Ann, his three children, Andy (Sheila), Chris (Melissa) and Amy Parkinson (Matt) will miss their husband, father and father-in-law more than words can describe here. When you think of Gerry as a grandfather, these seven were his pride and joy: Luke, Chloe, Jaden, Sam, Sophie, Olivia and Jaxon. His sister, Margaret and brother, Bruce (Marylin) are grieving from the loss of their brother and brother-in-law. Saturday mornings will be a little different in Ankeny as there is a whole group of men who will miss their coffee and stories with Gerry. Thank you to each of you for being there for him for all of these years. He cherished your friendship. Gerry was preceded in death by his parents, Harry and Gladys “Billie” Fehn.

Print